Another re-electionist senator, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, ranks first to third with 51.5%, the same level as in the last Pulse Asia survey in February.

Social Weather Stations (SWS), with a smaller sample size of 1,200 respondents, had Escudero dropping to third to fourth place from 2nd place in its March 15-17 survey.

In an interview with radio DZMM, Pulse Asia President Ronnie Holmes said Escudero's much-publicized row with the parents of his girlfriend Heart Evangelista may or may not have affected his chances of getting reelected.

Heart's parents, Rey and Cecile Ongpauco, first held a press conference opposing Escudero's relationship with their daughter last March 19, the second to the last day of the survey.

In second or third place in the Pulse Asia survey is re-electionist Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, with a preference rate of 48.7%.

Two candidates – former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairperson Grace Poe (42.1%) and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III (41.7%) -- will place 4th to 10th if elections were held during the survey period.

Former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar (40.8%) and UNA Deputy Secretary-General Nancy Binay (39.6%) are next and will end up 4th to 11th place.

On the other hand, there are three candidates who can land 4th to 12th place:

Among the significant events which happened during the survey period were the continued hostilities in Sabah, the death of a UP student, the appointment and subsequent withdrawal of lawyers Macabangkit Lanto and Bernadette Sardillo as Commission on Elections commissioners, the stay order versus the Reproductive Health Law.

Pulse Asia's nationwide survey has a plus/minus 2% margin of error.

Several UNA bets, meanwhile, questioned the results of the survey.

Ernesto Maceda, who is ranked 19th to 22nd, said the survey results do not reflect the response of the crowd in rallies.